Five short years ago I was headed to Alaska on a mission trip. It was a fantastic trip and I enjoyed every minute. I was just telling sister last night that I'd like to go back and spend time traveling to Denali.
This blog has become a place to share my stitching, quilting and knitting. Occasionally I share a few sentiments. Over the past year I have turned the news off for 85% or more of my media time. I typically watch it for the weather and then turn it off. The news media in my opinion is extreme drama and exaggeration. When I see videos from social media presented as news, I'm totally unimpressed and I devalue that news show credibility.
That said I can't help but hear the news and the horrible things that have happened in the world the past weeks. I'm saddened at the loss of lives and destruction that has taken place. I have nothing wise or helpful to say. My thought is I'm blessed to know where my help comes from and to have a relationship with My Savior Jesus.
My sister says I use that phrase too much "blessed or bless it" and I do use it a lot. I do know the meaning of being blessed and I mean it sincerely. I've had frequent prayer time with the Lord and it is our private code. He understands what I mean.
So I'll close this post that was started as a celebration and took a turn to more somber sentiments by saying:
Have a blessed day!
Showing posts with label mission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mission. Show all posts
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thankful Day Three
Today, I'm thankful for a warm home. It has turned chilly here in Tennessee. I have the heat on, but I leave it low at night and during the work day. I came home today and was quite chilled. But I know I'm very lucky to be able to turn my thermostat up or pull on extra clothes or crawl under a quilt.
I follow several Compassion bloggers (Kelly Stamps - Kelly's Corner, Amanda Jones - Baby Bangs, and Shaun Groves - The NEW Shaun Groves). I started following them as individuals and then they went on a trip to Guatemala for Compassion. Guatemala has had my heart since my first trip in 1995 and it is where my Compassion child lives. On this trip they are headed to Ecuador.
They will be touring the country and several of them will have the opportunity to meet their sponsored child. Many of these children would not have a warm home, food, shelter and other things if it weren't for Compassion and people like you and me who sponsor them.
So for this I'm thankful for a warm home, not only mine but theirs and Juana's.
Have a blessed day,
Tracy
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday - tourist day
All I can say is wow! I serve an awesome Creator and His work is magnificent.
blogger hates my photos so I will post some here - flickr.com/noahtracy
blogger hates my photos so I will post some here - flickr.com/noahtracy
Friday - End of park experience
Thursday and Friday were big days for the mission teams. We ended our time with park parties. One we hosted and one we served as cooks and clean up!
But we started each day with a time to run team errands. We had completed all of our in-park service projects and the ship hadn't arrived for the food bank. So we spent Thursday getting team pictures printed and while running into the stores, team members made a great decision. They decided to bless the children in our park with backpacks.
It was great fun, they purchased backpacks, pencil boxes, markers, and notebooks. We filled the boxes with candy, gum, and our team picture. We took the two mornings to purchase the items and then prepare the backpacks.
On Thursday afternoon we had our park time and we just loved on the kids. We saw new faces and had a great time just loving on the kids. That night we had our park party. It involved a bouncy house, hair paint and hot dogs. Needless to say, the kids had a blast. One of the teams here came and did drama skits, a great time was had by all.
Friday afternoon, we had a small turn out. We got to visit with most of our regular kids and we just spent the day giving out lunches and hanging out. The sun was out and you can tell the kids aren't used to warm 70+ degree days. They loved to stay in the shade. We had a great time handing out backpacks and talking to the kids for the last time but it was bittersweet. But we know the next team will have an awesome time with these kids.
We spent the evening on kitchen duty and serving at another teams block party. It was near our park and the make up of kids was a lot different. This area had a lot of Laotian immigrants and their turn out was huge. We cooked over 150 hot dogs and there wasn't a hot dog left when we packed up.
Team devotions and prayer times have been awesome and tomorrow we pack and leave Graceworks. We will have a fun day going to a glacier and having lunch at a wilderness park with all the mission teams.
Our team is tired but still ready to face the day! Can't wait to see God's creation tomorrow.
But we started each day with a time to run team errands. We had completed all of our in-park service projects and the ship hadn't arrived for the food bank. So we spent Thursday getting team pictures printed and while running into the stores, team members made a great decision. They decided to bless the children in our park with backpacks.
It was great fun, they purchased backpacks, pencil boxes, markers, and notebooks. We filled the boxes with candy, gum, and our team picture. We took the two mornings to purchase the items and then prepare the backpacks.
On Thursday afternoon we had our park time and we just loved on the kids. We saw new faces and had a great time just loving on the kids. That night we had our park party. It involved a bouncy house, hair paint and hot dogs. Needless to say, the kids had a blast. One of the teams here came and did drama skits, a great time was had by all.
Friday afternoon, we had a small turn out. We got to visit with most of our regular kids and we just spent the day giving out lunches and hanging out. The sun was out and you can tell the kids aren't used to warm 70+ degree days. They loved to stay in the shade. We had a great time handing out backpacks and talking to the kids for the last time but it was bittersweet. But we know the next team will have an awesome time with these kids.
We spent the evening on kitchen duty and serving at another teams block party. It was near our park and the make up of kids was a lot different. This area had a lot of Laotian immigrants and their turn out was huge. We cooked over 150 hot dogs and there wasn't a hot dog left when we packed up.
Team devotions and prayer times have been awesome and tomorrow we pack and leave Graceworks. We will have a fun day going to a glacier and having lunch at a wilderness park with all the mission teams.
Our team is tired but still ready to face the day! Can't wait to see God's creation tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday - Warfare
Today started out a little on the down side. After a great breakfast and chapel, we found out that the ship hadn't arrived for the food bank. We had a back up plan of working at the park, mowing and weed-eating the area where we serve lunch and the park that has been recently reclaimed from nature.
The service work went very quickly but it didn't feel like we had accomplished a lot. The ladies went and ran team errands and we were finished very early. We left the park and had our lunch in the mall next to the park. The mall is very empty, lots of empty store fronts, very depressing. After lunch we decided to drive through the park and pray over the trailer court.
I think several of team members felt the spiritual warfare that was taking place. My heart broke as child after child darted in the road or played in the dirt and NO one was watching out for these babies. Tiny little people left unattended and it seemed like they were so unloved. I just started praying and inwardly weeping.
Phil drove us back to the park, freshly mowed, called the team to prayer and then sent us out for personal prayer and quiet. All I could do was weep as I prayed. I felt such battle taking place over this area. I called on My God to do victory and work through our team and those to come.
We left the prayer time and headed to feed lunch to the park children. We expected more kids because the sun/Son had come out and it was time to win some hearts. We ran out of lunches and had more kids show up after lunch was over. We played intentional games and after the games Chris led the kids in a time of bible study and discussed the parable of salt and light. It was awesome.
More kids showed up and the guys were wore out from all the playing, tickling and just intense conversations. I watched Robby grab four guys and just pour into them. Cary and Phil had several others and were just in intense conversations. Brittany and I talked with sweet little girls and just loved on them, told them Bible stories and just tried to explain how much God loved on them. Chris had a group of both girls and boys and we had NINE kids led to the Lord today!!!
The battle was fierce but God had victory. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
NO photos again, blogger hates my collection.
The service work went very quickly but it didn't feel like we had accomplished a lot. The ladies went and ran team errands and we were finished very early. We left the park and had our lunch in the mall next to the park. The mall is very empty, lots of empty store fronts, very depressing. After lunch we decided to drive through the park and pray over the trailer court.
I think several of team members felt the spiritual warfare that was taking place. My heart broke as child after child darted in the road or played in the dirt and NO one was watching out for these babies. Tiny little people left unattended and it seemed like they were so unloved. I just started praying and inwardly weeping.
Phil drove us back to the park, freshly mowed, called the team to prayer and then sent us out for personal prayer and quiet. All I could do was weep as I prayed. I felt such battle taking place over this area. I called on My God to do victory and work through our team and those to come.
We left the prayer time and headed to feed lunch to the park children. We expected more kids because the sun/Son had come out and it was time to win some hearts. We ran out of lunches and had more kids show up after lunch was over. We played intentional games and after the games Chris led the kids in a time of bible study and discussed the parable of salt and light. It was awesome.
More kids showed up and the guys were wore out from all the playing, tickling and just intense conversations. I watched Robby grab four guys and just pour into them. Cary and Phil had several others and were just in intense conversations. Brittany and I talked with sweet little girls and just loved on them, told them Bible stories and just tried to explain how much God loved on them. Chris had a group of both girls and boys and we had NINE kids led to the Lord today!!!
The battle was fierce but God had victory. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
NO photos again, blogger hates my collection.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday - Rain Day
An awesome day today!!! We started with a great breakfast of pancakes with homemade blueberry syrup and fresh fruit - yumm! From there to chapel where Phil brought the message about praying and listening to God's voice.
From chapel we went to a local church to help in their food bank. They were in great need of volunteers and were very appreciative of the help. Several team members worked with the clients by helping them shop and making them feel welcome/loved on. Just talking, asking for prayer requests and asking them to come to church on Sunday. The rest of the team worked keeping the shopping carts prepared with bags and boxes broken down and out of the way. It was a great morning and we may work there again tomorrow, helping unload and organize a shipment.
We headed out for lunch and realized our lunches had been left at the home church! Ooops! so we headed to a nearby Subway/Burger King and had lunch. While eating lunch, the rain began. Luckily it was a soft rain. We headed to the park and prepared canopy/tents for lunch. After the kids ate lunch, we play lots of Ninja and freeze tag. We played for almost two hours and took time to look for a lost coin and share the parable of the lost coin! It was great. Kids came and went - it was cold as the rain fell, but we were pleased with who the Lord brought to us and the one on one time we could have with the kiddos.
After the park, we came back to the church, had a brief rest and then an amazing dinner. The wonderful cooks prepared salmon (smoked, grilled and blackened), halibut (baked and fried), coleslaw!, and hush puppies (regular and jalapeno). It was delicious and the first time I've ever liked salmon. So thankful for this awesome team that volunteers to staff the kitchen!!
After dinner, several team members headed out for a three mile hike, Phil and Andy are roughing in a door frame here at the church (the church is installing all new outer doors), and some of us are having down time. Daily team devotions and team debrief to come!
Photos later - blogger really isn't liking my connection
From chapel we went to a local church to help in their food bank. They were in great need of volunteers and were very appreciative of the help. Several team members worked with the clients by helping them shop and making them feel welcome/loved on. Just talking, asking for prayer requests and asking them to come to church on Sunday. The rest of the team worked keeping the shopping carts prepared with bags and boxes broken down and out of the way. It was a great morning and we may work there again tomorrow, helping unload and organize a shipment.
We headed out for lunch and realized our lunches had been left at the home church! Ooops! so we headed to a nearby Subway/Burger King and had lunch. While eating lunch, the rain began. Luckily it was a soft rain. We headed to the park and prepared canopy/tents for lunch. After the kids ate lunch, we play lots of Ninja and freeze tag. We played for almost two hours and took time to look for a lost coin and share the parable of the lost coin! It was great. Kids came and went - it was cold as the rain fell, but we were pleased with who the Lord brought to us and the one on one time we could have with the kiddos.
After the park, we came back to the church, had a brief rest and then an amazing dinner. The wonderful cooks prepared salmon (smoked, grilled and blackened), halibut (baked and fried), coleslaw!, and hush puppies (regular and jalapeno). It was delicious and the first time I've ever liked salmon. So thankful for this awesome team that volunteers to staff the kitchen!!
After dinner, several team members headed out for a three mile hike, Phil and Andy are roughing in a door frame here at the church (the church is installing all new outer doors), and some of us are having down time. Daily team devotions and team debrief to come!
Photos later - blogger really isn't liking my connection
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday Evening
Today, we had orientation at Graceworks Ministries, what an awesome ministry. There are five teams here this week, working in five different neighborhoods. The ministry is very organized, we are all color coded (we are yellow), vans are named (bear van), and neighborhood hosts are assigned to each team. They have really planned how to best use their time and talents.
We worked in Penland park today in a 450 site trailer court. Very inner city, exactly what you imagine in this type of facility. There is a great diversity in the area, both in people groups and family makeup. We had 25+ kids at the park. We are feeding them lunch (federal lunch program) and after lunch we have two hours planned to love on these kids. It is a very young group of kids at the park, ages 3 - 12 with the majority in the 3 - 7 age range. We will have a family night on Thursday.
It was a great day, we had several of the children asking great questions and showing amazing knowledge, someone at home is really pouring into them. After we had our team time, two of the kids met with Phil and a group and had more questions. He walked them through salvation and Jesus' love and they accepted Christ!! Great afternoon.
We followed that with a nice team worship time before dinner and we are about to have devotions. For those of you looking for awesome Alaska photos, sorry! 1) we've been asked to wait a little while before taking pictures with the kids and 2) it is cloudy and you can barely see the awesome mountains surrounding Anchorage.
I leave you with this prayer request for Tuesday. Pray for the children to return, for our team to be unified and very specific in actions, continued ministry to the area, this area to fall in love with Jesus!
We worked in Penland park today in a 450 site trailer court. Very inner city, exactly what you imagine in this type of facility. There is a great diversity in the area, both in people groups and family makeup. We had 25+ kids at the park. We are feeding them lunch (federal lunch program) and after lunch we have two hours planned to love on these kids. It is a very young group of kids at the park, ages 3 - 12 with the majority in the 3 - 7 age range. We will have a family night on Thursday.
It was a great day, we had several of the children asking great questions and showing amazing knowledge, someone at home is really pouring into them. After we had our team time, two of the kids met with Phil and a group and had more questions. He walked them through salvation and Jesus' love and they accepted Christ!! Great afternoon.
We followed that with a nice team worship time before dinner and we are about to have devotions. For those of you looking for awesome Alaska photos, sorry! 1) we've been asked to wait a little while before taking pictures with the kids and 2) it is cloudy and you can barely see the awesome mountains surrounding Anchorage.
I leave you with this prayer request for Tuesday. Pray for the children to return, for our team to be unified and very specific in actions, continued ministry to the area, this area to fall in love with Jesus!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Prayers for Sunday
Sunday, July 10:
Please pray for safety, flight connections and unity of our team as we travel to Knoxville and Nashville airports. Our team connects in Minneapolis to fly the last leg together to Alaska. Pray that God begins to place His burden on our hearts for those that He is going to cross in our paths. Pray that God will use us to be the fragrance and light of the Gospel as we drive, fill up for gas, through the airport, security, terminal and on the plane. May our eyes be opened and our hearts be ready for ALL opportunities to share the love of Christ through our words and our actions. Pray for the hearts and field to be ready for those in Anchorage that we will be meeting. Pray that the Holy Spirit begins to awaken souls to be stirred for what’s to come. Pray for God’s protection over our families as we leave them for the week.
Welcome
I am about to start on a new journey. I am headed on a mission trip and I will be using the blog as part of my journal. When I return it will also be a place to share my love of the Lord, stitching, quilting, and photography. Thanks Tammie for pushing me to start the blog.
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